Gamifying sustainability

Utilities and developers leverage the data of the smart grid to drive end-user behavior. In particular, “gamifying sustainability,” using games and game mechanisms to encourage energy conservation. Companies work with consumers and utility companies to track and analyze home energy consumption and present the data to consumers in ways that encourage them to save power.

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Opower’s online scoreboard allows users to compare and discuss their household electricity use, and gamifies the experience through challenges, group participation, and points and badges tied to real-world data. Using the gamification route Opower has enabled energy savings of 2–4 percent, translating into hundreds of millions of KW hours saved.